Severable egg carton



P 1938. A. E. BUESCHEL 2,130,377

SEVERABLE EGG CARTON Filed Oct. 1Q, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 time Sept. 20,1938 UITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEVERABLE EGG CARTON Application October10, 1935, Serial No. 44,377

7 Claims.

This invention relates to cartons and particularly to cartons which maybe readily separated into a plurality of disconnected units when founddesirable to divide or separate the contents of the carton,

One object of the present invention is to provide a carton separable toform disconnected units having a plurality of compartments therein, andwherein the end compartments of the respective units adjacent the lineof separation may be provided with proper closures and proper supportingmeans therefor to retain the contents in said compartments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carton having alongitudinal partition and transverse partitions therein providing aplurality of compartments and separable transversely of its length toform a plurality of disconnected partitions of suitable dimensions, andwithout the" loss of material in the formation of the blanks.

- A further object of the invention is to provide retaining members forthe respective carton units carried by the respective units of thecarton structure.

A still further object of the invention is to improve an article of thecharacter described in sundry details hereinafter referred to andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown for illustrativepurposes in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an open carton embodying features of thepresent invention and illustrating the means by which the carton may beseparated into a pair of disconnected units;

Fig.2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional elevation ofthestructure illustrated in Fig. 1, and taken substantially as indicatedby the line 2-2 ofFig. 3;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse elevational view m of one end of acarton unit after the other unit has been disconnected therefrom, theview being taken substantially as indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2,and illustrating features of the present invention associated therewith;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of one end of acarton unit after the other unit has been disconnected therefrom;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on a smaller scale of a blank suitably formed andscored, from which the body portion of .the carton is constructed; 4Fig. 6 is an elevational view on a reduced scale of a longitudinalpartition employed for providing a plurality of compartments within thebody of the carton;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the blank shownin Fig. 5, illustrating more in detail certain of the structure embodiedtherein; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the central portion of thelongitudinal partition 15 shown in Fig. 6, and illustrates more indetail certain of the structure embodied therein.

Referring to the drawings, the present embodiment of the inventionillustrated therein is shown in conjunction with a carton suitable forcontain- 2 ing eggs, or the like, indicated as a whole by the numeral 7,and comprising front and rear side walls 8 and 9, respectively, a covermember iii, bottom I I, vertically disposed transverse partition membersl2, 20 and HM, and a pair of central transverse partitions I2a and Rh,respectively, adjacent the central transverse portion of the carton. Thetransverse partitions l2 and H20 are operatively connected adjacent theupper edge portion of their respective ends to the front and rear walls8 and 9, respectively, by means of flat web portions i3 and i4, whilethe central transverse partitions l2a and |2b are connected,respectively, to the front and rear walls 8 and 9 of the carton by flatweb portions Na and Nb, 35 respectively of slightly different form thanthe webs l3 and i4 related to the transverse partitions I2, I20 and.I212.

The illustrative embodiment also includes a centrally located one-piecelongitudinal parti- 40 tion, indicated as a whole by the numeral l5,extending substantially the entire length of the carton l and having aplurality of recesses I 6 formed in its lower edge portion for receivingthe partitions l2, I211; I 2b, 120 and IM, and having hooklikesupporting portions I1 extending in a common direction and throughelongated apertures i8-formed in an inner or false bottom [9. The latteris spaced from the bottom i l and connected to the front and rear wallsd and 9, respectively, of the carton by means of supporting strips 2iand Zia, respectively, (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5). The extending of thehook-like portions l'i in a common direction permits the use of aone-piece longitudinal partition such as iii, which is of mate- 5s rialadvantage in assembling the partition I5 with the other portions of thecarton structure.

To facilitate the separation or severance of the carton I transverselyof its longitudinal dimensions to form a plurality of carton units Iaand lb, the carton structure is provided with a weakened portion, shown,in the present instance, as

a line of elongated perforations indicated, generally, by the numeral 22formed in the cover I0, bottom II, front and rear walls I and 8,respectively, and in the inner or false bottom I8 of the carton. Theline of division is further defined by a weakened portion such, forexample, as a line of elongated perforations, indicated generally by thenumeral 23, formed in the central longitudinal partition I5 adjacent andbetween the recesses I6 in which the transverse partitions I20, and l2bare positioned, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, thereby forming a pairof retaining fingers 24 and 25 at opposite sides of the scoring 23 andadjacent the transverse partitions I2a and l2b, respectively.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. 1 and '7 that a perforation P ofsubstantial length is provided between the webs I2a and l2b to permiteasy separation of the webs I2a' and I2b when the carton structure issevered into separate units such as Ia and lb, and that the portionsbetween the partitions I2a and I2b and their respective supporting websI2a' and l2b are weakened by cut scores I2a" and l2b", respectively, tofacilitate bending down of the partitions I21: and l2b withoutdistorting or rupturing the webs I2a' and l2b, and also that thepartition l2b is somewhat shorter between the side walls 8 and 9 thanthe other partitions to facilitate bendin down of the partition I2bwithout resistance by engagement of the ends thereof with the front andrear walls of the carton. A cut score I2r is provided also between thesupporting strip 2Ia and the adjacent webs l2a' and l2b to facilitatebending of the strip 2Ia in relation to the adjacent webs I2a' and l2b.By reference to Figs. 2 and 8, it will be noted that the line ofperforations formed in the longitudinal partition I5, and indicatedgenerally by the numeral 23, comprises a perforation 23a of substantiallength, shorter perforations 23b and a perforation or notch 230 shown,in the present instance, as extending to the upper edge of thelongitudinal partition I5 to facilitate severing of the partitiontransversely when the carton structure is severed into separate units 1aand 1b as above described.

It will be observed that by such an arrangement, the carton "I may bereadily separated along a line transversely of its length when founddesirable to separate or divide the contents ofa carton, as, forexample, in selling or dispensing a half dozen eggs or the like, andthat in such separation of the carton into a plurality of disconnectedunits, as indicated by the numerals Ia and 1b, the retaining fingers 24and 25 of the respective separated portions of the longitudinalpartition I5 will provide supports for the transverse partitions I21:and l2b, respectively, of the respective units to retain the contents ofthe compartments adjacent the line of separation against accidentaldisplacement. Each of the disconnected carton units will be providedwith a retaining finger for the central partitions I21: and I2b asclearly illustrated at 24 in the perspective view shown in Fig. 4.

It will be obvious by reference to Figs. 2 and 5 that the transversepartitions In and l2b are of the respective tabs.

formed in a common horizontal plane and extend in opposite directions atopposite sides of the line of scoring 23, and that the transversepartitions I2 and I20 and I2d formed in series at the respectiveopposite sides of the central partitions I2a and l2b are also formed inthe same common horizontal plane and extend in the same direction as thetransverse partition I2a, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and are adapted tobe swung downwardly in a like direction into spaced vertically disposedpositions to form the transverse partitions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings. The arrangement and formation of the partitions I2 and I20in the manner above described is such as to permit the cutting ofsuccessive or adjacent blanks, as illustrated in Fig. 5, without wasteor loss of material- It may be noted by reference to Fig. 5 thatadjacent blanks may be formed side by side and ample material providedfor the end partition I20 by extending it beyond the edge of an adjacentblank to form a recess in the adjacent blank as illustrated at A (Fig.5) between the webs I3a and Ila at opposite ends of the partition I2dlocated at the opposite edge "of the blank from the partition I2c.

Formed adjacent the front or free edge portion of the cover member I0are a plurality of spaced locking tongues 26 extending in a commondirection with respect to the cover and being adapted to cooperate withthe web portions I3 of the partitions I2 and with the web portion l2b ofthe partition l2b adjacent the front wall I for securing the covermember In in carton closin position.

If desired, the portions of the inner or false bottom I9, beneath eachof the cells or compartments formed by the longitudinal and transversepartitions, may becut' through or perforated along arcuate lines 21,(Figs. '1 and 5) and the material inside the lines 21 may be cut throughtransversely along irregular lines 28, thereby providing tabs 29, one ofthe tabs being provided with a centrally located projection 3I and theother tab with side projections 32 extending beyond the free end of theprojection 3| to provide an overlapping of the adjacent edges A portionof the false bottom material is left uncut and provided with a foldingscore 33 to form a weakened neck portionby which the tabs 29 areconnected to the 0 body of the false bottom I9. This arrangementprovides tabs of a somewhat greater length than the distance between thefalse bottom I9 and the main bottom II. It will be apparent that as eggsor similar articles are positioned on the tabs 29 of the false bottomI9, that the tabs will be forced downwardly out of the plane of thefalse bottom, thereby providing apertures for the reception of the eggsor other articles. The free ends of the projections 3I and 32 are. movedinto engagement with the main bottom portion II of the carton in amanner to assume an inclined position with respect thereto, therebyproviding resilient supports for the eggs and protecting them againstsudden or severe shocks to which they may be subjected in the handlingof the carton.

Heretofore divisible boxes of this type have been proposed with asymmetrical structure with reference to the line of division, resultingin two wings on the carton blank like wing I2c. These have been providedwith two separate longitudinal partitions overlapping at the line ofdivision. By the present structure a single and divisible partition isused for the 2 x 6 carton, and the structure of the box is such as topermit easy insertion of the same. It is for this reason that all thedown-foldable flaps extend in one direction, except cross-partitionI21), and this is made shorter as described to minimize the resistanceit would otherwise offer because of its swinging reversely to the otherflaps.

In setting up the box, the carton is opened from a fiat form to arectangular form in which the eight down-foldable flaps still lie in thecut panel which supplies them and their hinging tabs I3 and M or websI2a and I211. The single longitudinal partition is held in one hand andthe finger at the right end of Fig. 6 is hooked into the slot in flapl2d, while the partition is at an acute angle with and above the lengthof the carton. The angle is then closed. In this action the projectionsI! on the partition successively strike the flaps and turn themdownwardly, the projection ll nearest the finger 25 at the line ofdivision serving to fold down the odd flap I21) and also the adjacentregular flap in the same section. As the flaps near vertical'positionand before the projections I! fully enter the holes H3 in the egg-rackI9, the projections are suificient- 1y efiective to bend the flaps inthe middle by a backward pull on the partition so that the projectionsmay fully enter holes l8 and be locked on a slight forward motion of thepartition.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description that the presentinvention provides a carton comprising but two elements, namely, thecarton body and longitudinal partition l5, which may be quickly andreadily assembled, and that the present invention also provides a'cartoncapable of being separated transversely of its length into a pluralityof disconnected units wherein suitable means are provided for theprotection of the contents, and novel means carried by the respectiveunits are provided for retaining the contents in the compartmentadjacent the line of separation against accidental displacement.

Obviously, the present invention is not limited to the preciseconstruction and arrangement shown and described as the same may bevariously modified. Moreover, all the features of the invention need notbe used conjointly as the same may be used to advantage in variouslydifferent combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A carton formed from a single sheet of material and having a mainbottom, a false bottom having a plurality of apertures formedtherecentral partitions and to said last mentioned strip by cut-scoredportions, said last mentioned webs adjacent the respective ends of saidcentral partitions being separated by an elongated perforation formed inthe material between said webs, and a longitudinal partition having aplurality of recesses formed in its lower edge adapted to receive saidtransverse partitions and having a plurality of hook-like supportingportions extending in a common direction and through said apertures to aposition beneath said false bottom, said carton and longitudinalpartition having lines of perforations formed therein and extendingtransversely thereof adjacent their central portions to facilitateseparating the carton and longitudinal partition into a pair ofdisconnected units.

2. Atransversely divisible carton of paper or the like having wallsforming a cover, a bottom, two longitudinal sides, and a panel extendingbetween the two side walls and located above the bottom, said wallsbeing weakened along a transverse line of division to permit readilydividing the carton into sections, said panel being cut to providedown-foldable flaps which in foldeddown position form transverse cellwalls in the carton, there being a flap at each side of the line ofdivision both arranged to swing toward each other to provide end wallsfor the divided sections, the remaining flaps of the carton being formedto swing in the same direction as one of the two flaps at the line ofdivision.

3. A transveisely divisible carton of paper or the like having wallsforming a cover, a bottom, two longitudinal sides, and a panel extendingbetween the two side walls and located above the bottom, said wallsbeing weakened along a transverse line of division to permit readilydividing the carton into sections, said panel being out to providedown-foldable flaps which in folded-down position form transverse cellwalls in the carton, there being a flap at each side of the line ofdivision both arranged to swing toward each other to provide end wallsfor the divided sections, the remaining flaps of the carton being formedto swing in the same direction as one of the two flaps at the line ofdivision, and longitudinal dividing means intersecting flaps of saidcarton for dividing a space between adjacent flaps into cells.

divided sections, the remaining flaps of the carton being formed toswing in the same direction as one of the two flaps at the line ofdivision, and a single longitudinal dividing partition intersectingflaps of said carton for dividing a space between adjacent flaps intocells, said partition crossing the line of division and being thereweakened to facilitate division of the partition with the walls of thecarton.

5. A transversely divisible carton of paper or the like having wallsforming a cover, a bottom, two longitudinal sides, an egg rack elevatedfrom the bottom, and a panel above the egg rack extending between thetwo side walls and located above the bottom, said walls being weakenedalong a transverse line of division to permit readily dividing thecarton into sections, said panel being cut to provide a plurality ofdown-foldable flaps which in folded-down position form transverse cellwalls in'the carton of approximately equal depth from top to bottom ofthe wall and which terminate closely adjacent the top level of the eggrack, the egg-rack being provided with cut portions to receive the endsof eggs lying between adjacent transverse cell walls, there being a flapat each side of the line of division both arranged to swing toward eachother to provide end walls for the divided sections, the remaining flapsof the carton being formed to swing in the same direction as one of thetwo flaps'at the line of division.

6. A transversely divisible carton of paper or the like having wallsforming a cover, a bottom, two longitudinal sides,.an egg rack elevatedfrom the bottom, and a panel above the egg rack extending between thetwo side walls and located above the bottom, said walls being weakenedalong a transverse line of division to permit readily dividing thecarton into sections, said panel being cut to provide a plurality ofdown-foldable flaps which in folded-down position form transverse cellwalls in the carton of approximately equal depth from top to bottom ofthe wall and which terminate closely adjacent the top level of the eggrack, the eggrack being provided with cut portions to receive the endsof eggs lying between adjacent transverse cell walls, there being a flapat each side of the line of division both arranged to swing toward eachother to provide end walls for the divided sections, the remaining flapsof the carton being formed to swing in the same direction as one of thetwo flaps at the line of division, a longitudinal dividing partitionintersecting flaps of said carton for dividing a space between adjacentflaps into cells, said partition crossing the line of division and beingthere weakened to facilitate division of the partition with the walls ofthe carton, and spaced hooked projections carried by the partition, witheach projection in contact with a flap and with hooks extending in thesame direction for entering spaced holes in the egg rack, said partitionbeing longitudinally movable in said holes to effect hooking engagementof the partition with the egg rack.

7. In a carton for eggs and the like having cross-wise cells thereinformed between longitudinal sides of the carton, and a separatelongitudinal partition dividing said cells into lengthwise rows, a panelcut to form a series of downfoldable flaps and connecting tabs in theplane of the panel which carry said flaps for folding each flap upon ahinging line of connection, said flaps serving to define cross-cells insaid carton and being arranged to be intersected by said longitudinalpartition, said flaps and tabs being arranged for all save one to swingin the same direction to parallel vertical positions, said one swingingin the opposite direction to a vertical position parallel with theothers, said one flap being made shorter crosswise of the carton to giveless resistance by minimizing drag on the longitudinal sides than theother flaps in folding all the flaps in one operation by using saidseparate longitudinal partition as a device to operate upon the seriesof flaps in folding them to vertical position.

ANDREW E. BUESCHEL;

